Cubs outfielder Felix Pie is missing today’s game with the Milwaukee Brewers with a twisted testicle. OUCH! We’ve all heard the term, “Play Ball”, but this gives it all a new meaning.

Pie is having a procedure today to straighten things out down there and should be back with the ballclub later in the week. Felix has been having a pretty good spring so far and looks to have the inside track on the starting centerfield job with Chicago. The fans in the bleachers at Wrigley Field yell out different types of pie when Pie (pronounced pee-AY) is in center.

Tags: 2008 Spring Training Trip, Cubs, Injuries, Spring Training by Teddy Ballgame
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Boy, that didn’t take long.

Tags: Injuries by The Baseball Zealot
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Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.

In the first week of spring training, word has it this will be Mark Prior’s year.  He is “free of pain” in his workout according to the NY Times.  He is “pain-free” according to SI. 

The Canadian Press goes as far as to say that Prior is “on track for a comeback”.

Well, the expectations have been set.  But as a Cub fan, I’ve been through this before. 

If the Padres were smart, they would steer the press away from Mark Prior.  When one workout without pain makes the headlines, it only adds to the pressure.  And while baseball players should be able to focus and get that out their head, I get the idea that this kind of thing really affects Prior. 

But hey, he’s not our problem anymore. 

Tags: Cubs, Injuries by The Baseball Zealot
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This MLB report that just came out about Albert Pujols’ nagging elbow injury attempts to paint a rosy picture on his prospects for 2008. 

As a Cub fan who has dealt with many reports of “rosy pictures” in past years, I’m dubious.  And Cub fans, don’t hate me but I’m hopeful too.  Phat Albert is the cornerstone of my APBA team. 

Maybe it’s the cynic in me, but this kind of spin from MLB is reminiscent of politicians who one week say “We have no plans to (fill in unpopular action).”, then the next week do exactly that.  When they come out to say to the baseball fans that a baseball injury is not THAT bad (the article is entitled Pujols’ Elbow Feeling Good), they may be just preparing us for the worst. 

This snippet from Pujols was a little disconcerting.

“Do I need to be concerned? No. I don’t have any concerns, because it’s going to affect me thinking about it — I can’t do this or that. If it blows out, it’s going to blow out. You can’t control that. When God says it’s going to blow out, its going to blow out.”

Pujols opted against surgery on the elbow this off-season with the thinking that the benefit wouldn’t outweigh the downtime. 

That said, as good as Pujols has been, he has shown a noticeable decline in offensive numbers in the last couple years.  At some point, elbow surgery may worth it. 

Divine intervention can only do so much. 

Tags: Injuries by The Baseball Zealot
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From the MLB.com St Louis Cardinals mailbag (emphasis mine):

The discussion of Pujols’ health was, in some places, lost amidst his other comments at the Winter Warm-Up, so this is a good time to take a look at the situation.

First, it’s worth noting that Pujols has played with this elbow problem for nearly five years now — so he knows how to manage it. But if he did in fact aggravate it and require surgery, it would be a major procedure.

Buh-buh-buh-buh…

As a lifetime owner of Pujols in my APBA league (drafted with my first pick in his rookie year), talk like this makes my eye tick come back and I start mumbling nonsensical words.

Unfortunately, Tim D from RotoAuthority sees a little room for concern, too.

In light of new information, I wonder if maybe we should bump Miguel Cabrera ahead of Pujols on our draft sheets.  It could be dangerous to underestimate Albert, but he admitted to playing through elbow pain in 2007.  It probably won’t be 100% again unless he has surgery, but he’s trying rest instead this winter.  He also had hamstring and calf maladies in ‘07.

 

Buh-buh buh…

Tags: Injuries by The Baseball Zealot
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The San Diego Padres have signed local product Mark Prior to a one-year contract worth $1 million plus incentives. 

Sure, I’d love to say that the Padres are crazy for signing the oft-injured right-hander who hasn’t given the Cubs any good output since 2003 but in reality the deal looks solid for both parties involved. 

One million dollars is chump change and the Padres won’t miss that.  If the incentives factor in (I don’t think the details are out) and they have to pony up, well, then Prior must have done something right.  Money aside, the most valuable thing that the Pads are giving up is a roster spot.  Assuming, they are lucky enough to use him. 

From Prior’s perspective, San Diego is the place to go.  He’s going to his boyhood home.  He pitched at University of San Diego High School.  Also, he’s going to pitch along with the best including former teammate Greg Maddux not to mention 2007 Cy Young unam Jake Peavy. 

That all said, I  don’t foresee another breakout year by him. The percentages are too much against him.  It’s said that he won’t be ready till May.  My bet is that it will be later than that. 

By the way, Baseball Musings’ David Pinto wrote an article for The Sporting News on the Prior acquisition by the Padres putting a historical spin on the signing.

Tags: Cubs, Hot Stove, Injuries by The Baseball Zealot
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At the GM meetings this week, it was decided that the wearing of helmets by first and third base coaches will be enforced.  This is in response to the death of AA coach Mike Coolbaugh who was hit by a line drive on July 22 this year. 

The exact details of what they will be wearing has not been ironed out. 

Ron Kremer of the Herald News agrees with the ruling.  He makes his argument in his article entitled Baseball Gets With It:

The decision came four months after ex-major leaguer Mike Coolbaugh died. He was struck in the neck by a batted ball while coaching at first base during a minor league game. He was not wearing a helmet.

…except (as Kremer notes in the sentence before) Coolbaugh was hit in the neck and that helmet probably wouldn’t have saved his life. 

As for the issue itself, I’m not much for mandates in isolated situations like these.  If the coaches want to wear the protective devices, I’m all for it.  Joe Garagiola Jr, senior vice president for baseball operations, says that there was a “sentiment that as concept, this was a good idea.” Hopefully, this sentiment extends to those who will be wearing the helmets. 

Tags: Deaths, Injuries by The Baseball Zealot
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Felix Hernandez: 8 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K (Win)

Felix had his way with a quiet Pirate offense. It was second game in a row Pittsburgh got shut out.

It’s Hernandez’ second win in seven starts since coming back from the DL but he’s showing improvement. His May ERA was a lofty 6.30 and so far, his June ERA is a much lower 3.86.

Tags: Injuries, Linescores of the Day by The Baseball Zealot
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Chien-Ming Wang: 8 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K (Win)

I remember just last year at our fantasy draft some people were giggling over Chien-Ming Wang’s last name. I would roll my eyes and say it’s not pronounced like THAT. Then another round of giggles. *Sigh* It’s 2007 now and everyone knows his name.

Anyway, Wang came pretty dang close to a perfect game but left a changeup pitch “high” (his words) and Ben Broussard took it deep for the Mariner’s only run.

It was Wang’s first start since being put on the disabled list for a strained right hamstring.

In other Yankee news, it sounds like their beleaguered pitching staff will be getting more help. The Rocket has decided to join them in a one-year deal.

Tags: Injuries, Linescores of the Day by The Baseball Zealot
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Phil Hughes 6 1/3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K (Win)

Let’s get this out the way. Yankee Phil Hughes almost pitched a no hitter in his second career start. By almost I mean, he left the seventh inning with it intact. But nevertheless, it makes good press. And let’s face it, it’s still quite an accomplishment.

He left with an 0-2 count which meant he was responsible for the batter. Listening to the East Coast Yankee lovin’ MLB Radio guys while it was happening, it was rather funny to hear them worry about the prospects the Yankee bullpen and how it would shake out. Needless to say, Myers came in, got the out but later on gave up a hit.

Hughes is said to be out for 4-6 weeks. That’s what say now.

Josh Willingham 2 for 4, 2B, HR, run, 5 rbis

In my APBA draft this year, I drafted Mike Jacobs to back up Albert Pujols. I should have drafted Josh Willingham who played enough firstbase last year to cover me. Jacobs is ok, i guess but useless to me as long as Pujols is around (other than to back up the few games that Albert will miss.

With the 5 rbis, Josh has 23 for the year and he now is hitting .309.

Tags: Injuries, Linescores of the Day by The Baseball Zealot
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